iPhone 6s Stuck in Headphone Mode? Here’s How to Fix It

If your iPhone 6s is showing “Headphones” above the volume slider even though there’s nothing plugged in, you’re likely dealing with a frustrating glitch. This bug tricks your phone into thinking headphones are still connected, so sound won’t come through the speakers — no ringtones, no music, no alerts.

Here’s how to fix an iPhone 6s stuck in headphone mode, whether it’s caused by a software hiccup or something stuck inside the headphone jack.

1. Soft Reset or Force Restart Your iPhone

A simple restart can knock your phone back to normal if it’s just a minor software glitch.

Soft reset:

Hold the Power button until “slide to power off” appears.
Slide to turn off. Wait 30 seconds.
Hold Power again until the Apple logo shows.

Force restart (if unresponsive):

Hold down the Home button and Power button together.
Release both when you see the Apple logo.

2. Plug in and Unplug Your Headphones

Sometimes just re-inserting and removing your headphones can jog the iPhone out of headphone mode.

Plug in your headphones
Play music for a few seconds
Unplug the headphones while music is still playing
Test the speakers again

Do this a few times to see if it clears the stuck state.

3. Toggle Airplane Mode On and Off

Some users have had luck with this trick:

Go to Settings > Airplane Mode
Turn it on for 1–2 minutes
Turn it off again
Check if the iPhone is still in headphone mode

4. Change Audio Routing Settings

Try tweaking audio settings in Accessibility to force audio through the speaker.

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Call Audio Routing
Change it to Speaker
Place a test call to check audio output
Then switch it back to Automatic

5. Clean Out the Headphone Jack

Dust, lint, or moisture inside the headphone jack can trick your phone into thinking headphones are connected. Use extreme caution when trying any of the methods below:

Option 1: Use a flashlight and compressed air

Shine a light into the jack and look for lint or debris
Use a can of compressed air to gently blow out the jack

Option 2: Use a BIC pen trick (carefully)

Remove the ink cartridge from a BIC pen
Use the hollow end to gently insert and twist inside the jack to dislodge debris

Option 3: Use tweezers or a toothpick

Only attempt this if you see obvious debris and have steady hands
Never force anything — you could damage the internal contacts

6. Check Sound Settings and Try a Different Ringtone

Sometimes, your iPhone may just not be alerting due to volume settings.

Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics
Tap Ringtone and try a few different tones
Make sure the Volume slider is up

7. Reset Network Settings

This won’t delete your data, but it resets things like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and audio routing settings.

Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings
Enter your passcode if prompted
Let your iPhone restart and test the sound again

8. Try an iOS Update

If your iPhone is behind on software updates, a newer version may patch the bug.

Head to Settings > General > Software Update
Download and install the latest available iOS

9. Still Not Fixed? It Could Be Hardware Damage

If nothing works, there may be physical damage to the headphone jack, especially if your iPhone was dropped or exposed to liquid.

Possible signs of hardware issues:

Moisture inside the jack
Bent or corroded pins
Jack pulled loose from the logic board

At this point, your best bet is to:

Take it to an Apple Store or authorized repair center
Or contact Apple Support if under warranty or AppleCare